Adam Scott rallies from slow start, stays close

Dèjá vu is serving Adam Scott well in the defense of his green jacket.

The No. 2 player in the world, Scott recovered from a slow start to his second round for even-par 72. He is tied for third at 3-under 141, four shots behind leader Bubba Watson.

Just as he did last year, Scott opened with 69 in the first round before making three bogeys on the front nine to fall back to even. He remembered 2013 when he got off to his slow start Friday.

“There’s no doubt I’m a much more patient player the last few years,” he said. “As I made a few bogeys, I remembered I did last year on Friday on the front nine as well.

“I knew if I finished the day in red numbers, I would be in a pretty good position going into the weekend.”

Scott is trying to become the fourth player to win consecutive Masters Tournament titles, and the first since Tiger Woods in 2001-02. Scott tees off in the third-to-last pairing today at 2:25 p.m. with Jordan Spieth.

Scott shot 69 in the third round last year and kept himself in contention. With firm conditions expected, Scott said a lot depends on what players ahead of him do.

“Certainly depends on how Bub­ba plays and a couple other guys up the top play,” he said. “If they move in the right direction, then it’s going to get away from some guys.

“It just means tomorrow’s round’s extremely important for me. It’s going to have to be maybe the best round of the week.”

Scott drove his tee ball at No. 1 into the right bunker. He bogeyed the hole, and Nos. 4 and 5.

He recovered on the second nine. After making birdie at No. 12, he birdied the two par-5 holes. Scott parred the final three holes.

In windy conditions, he hit just five fairways and found 10 greens in regulation. Scott needed just 28 putts, though.

“There’s no way guys were playing flawless tee to green,” he said. “It was so difficult. When the greens are like this, you’ve got to be so precise, whether it’s putting or with your iron play. It’s going to be a demanding weekend if we continue to have this nice, dry weather.”